Hank Smith didn't really know what a
pecking order was until his future father-in-law showed him live
chickens and explained the concept.One chicken eats until it gets
pecked on the head by another chicken and goes away — and so on.
But he had participated in a pecking order in high school. He wanted
to be popular and did what it took to get there: being mean to kids who
weren't popular.
In "Thou Shalt Be Nice," his latest talk on CD released by Covenant
Communications, Smith relates stories from his high school years. He
also issues the "Laura Larsen Challenge."
When he was a sophomore in high school, he met Laura, a 4-foot-11
senior, in his seminary class. "She glowed," Smith tells the audience.
He told himself, "That girl's happy."
But her example wouldn't mean much to him until his father overheard
him saying something very nasty about someone else. Smith felt the
"death grip" on his shoulder and the glare, so he resolved to change.
"I'm going to be nice," he decided.
Smith, a seminary teacher who lives in West Jordan, Utah, goes on to
tell about experiences in his high school art class and efforts to
transform himself into someone who stood up for what's right.
He must have succeeded, because his mother told him at one point, "You glow." And he shouted, "I'm Laura Larsen."
His challenge to listeners is to show genuine charity to others.
"Sometimes you have to choose between being cool and being
Christ-like," he says.
Smith uses humor — at times a touch irreverent — to make his points.
The only thing missing is being able to see his expressions and body
language, which no doubt helped him build rapport with his teen
audience.
E-mail: rwalsh@desnews.com